CTA Surface System History presented by the Illinois Railway Museum

The CTA map index was researched and devised by Roy Benedict and Bob Heinlein. Thanks to both these gentlemen, we are able to benefit from the hard work and dedication.

Dates on Pre-CTA maps have been gathered from research of the printed map itself as well as information from experts.

"Front Page" is identified as the side with the major map. "Back Page" is the opposite side. Some map files are quite large (up to 15 mb). They may take a while to load depending on your internet connection speed.

Pre-CTA Maps

The Union Elevated Loop - 1898

Click here for the FULL MAP/DOCUMENT

Map of Elevated Railroads - 1900 (Images courtesy Bob Heinlein)

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Map of Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad - Date Unknown

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

The Chicago and Interurban Trolley Guide - 1908

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The City Railways Map of Electric Trains in Chicago - 1910 (Image courtesy Bob Heinlein)

Click here for the FULL MAP

Birds Eyeview of Chicago Showing the Elevated Railroads - 1913 (Images courtesy Bob Heinlein)

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Summer Outings in Chicago via Elevated Railroads - 1915

The "Cover" and "Inside Cover" may have originally been attached to the other pages.

Click here for the Cover

Click here for the Inside Cover

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Where To Go and What To See-Chicago Elevated Railroads - 05/1916 (Images courtesy Bob Heinlein)

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

How to See Chicago - c1918

Click here for FULL MAP BOOKLET

Guide to Chicago-Use the Elevated - 05/1918 (Images courtesy Bob Heinlein)

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Guide to Chicago-Use the Elevated - 03/1920 (Images courtesy Bob Heinlein)

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Sightseeing via Chicago Surface Lines - 1921

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Rerouting of Cars on Chicago Surface Lines - 09/14/1924

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago Surface Lines Sightseeing Guide - 1925

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

CSL - Seeing Greater Chicago - 1926

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CRT - Chicago, What to See and How to Go - 1926

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Eucharistic Congress Chicago Surface Lines Sightseeing Guide - 06/20/1926

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Routes to Mundelein and the Eucharistic Congress - 06/1926

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

On Time Service-Whatever the Weather - 10/1926 (Images courtesy Bob Heinlein)

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago-What to See and How to Go - 12/1927 (Images courtesy Bob Heinlein)

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago-What to See and How to Go - 12/1927

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago Surface Lines Routes in Central Business District - 1928

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Seeing Greater Chicago by the Chicago Surface Lines - 1928

Click here for the FULL DOCUMENT

Click here for MAP INSERT

Seeing Greater Chicago by the Chicago Surface Lines - 1929

Click here for the FULL DOCUMENT

Click here for MAP INSERT

Republican Notional Convention Service Information - 1932

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

See Chicago and A Century of Progress Exposition, Use Chicago Surface Lines - 03/1933

Travel Map and Guide to Chicago's Attractions (Ride the "L" Above Congestion) - 08/1933

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

"L" Map of Chicago - Rapid Transit Lines - 1933

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

"L" Map of Chicago - Rapid Transit Lines WITH Sticker - 1934

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

A New Elevated Railroad Pass - 1934 (Images courtesy Bob Heinlein)

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago Map Showing "L" Rapid Transit Lines - 1934

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

See Chicago, Use Chicago Surface Lines - 04/1934

Map of Transfer Stations Between Rapid Transit and Surface Lines - 09/1935

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Transfers Between Chicago Surface Lines and Chicago Rapid Transit - 09/1935

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Map of Chicago and Suburbs, Rapid Transit "L" Lines - 1935

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

See Chicago, Use Chicago Surface Lines - 1935

Click here for the FULL DOCUMENT

Click here for the MAP INSERT/FOLD OUT (North Section)

Click here for the MAP INSERT/FOLD OUT (South Section)

Transfers Between Rapid Transit Lines and Chicago Motor Coach - 01/1936

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Chicago Map, Ride the "L" - 1936

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Elevated Map of Chicago - 1937

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

See Chicago, Use Chicago Surface Lines - 1938

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Map insert is still stapled and we don't want to ruin the integrity of the original document in our collection.

The Elevated Map of Chicago and Suburbs - 09/1939

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

See Chicago, Use Chicago Surface Lines - 1940

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Transportation Map of Chicago - 05/1940

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Rapid Transit Time Table of Trains - 10/1940

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago Rapid Transit Lines Transportation Map - 07/1941

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago by Surface Lines - 1942

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Transportation Map, Chicago Rapid Transit Lines - 05/1942

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago Rapid Transit Map - 1943

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago's New Subway Station Stops - 01/1943

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Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago's New Subway and Elevated Railroad Connections - 02/1943

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

Chicago Rapid Transit Map - 1946

Click here for the Front Page of the FULL MAP

Click here for the Back Page of the FULL MAP

See Chicago - Use Chicago Surface Lines - 08/01/1947

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